[awayeah]

The Axon 7 will have a great DAC and cost less than the HTC 10. If I didn't already have the 10 I'd buy the Axon.

DAC doesn't mean anything. I've had Vivo X5 max+ with Sabre ES9018M and it was a very disappointing experience.... Pioneer XDP100 with the same DAC is by far one of the best DAPs on the market.
S7edge has Cirrus Logic DAC and while seriously lacking in power, the quality is very good for a smartphone (Note 4 and S6 edge+ were also very good). In my opinion all 3 Samsung devices are better than FiiO X5 I gen (driving abilities excluded).
Almost all Snapdragon based flagships in recent years have clean and decent head-out, but very digital and lacking in finesse, fine details and generallly far from what I would consider an audiophile level of technicality and tonality.
 
You should only judge based on actual listening experience.

 

[SeeSax]

Thats great news! Out of the 14 or so IEMs purchased over the past three months Ive never experienced such a dramatic improvement from burn as with the QT5s ! Its a pity YhinZin doesnt provide info with the QT5s explaining they require a timeline of burnin / or their manufacturer QC performs at least 24hours burn in.. might prevent the odd customer sending them back dissapointed. I was impressed by mine OOTB but also new thx to bhazard , Paulus and Carlsan what to expect OOTB.

Am finally past the 100 hour mark now and noticing more warmth , clarity and refinement , the mids more fluid and detailed. .trebles always been a marvel . really phenomenal !

 
Well since technology is failing me in general, my burn-in track crashed at two hours in last night. So I suppose I have somewhere around six hours of burn-in 

 
I'll see if I can let them burn-in for most of today. They are sounding better, not nearly as veiled in the mids as they were. Treble and bass sound good now, it's just the mids are super recessed. I didn't think these would have such a v-shape, but that's okay for now. I'm leaning toward them not being defective and perhaps just not what I was expecting. I didn't mean to crap all over the thread, but I can assure everyone my initial impressions were the honest truth!
 
I spoke to Jim HCK just to ask about the process if they were deemed to be defective. He pointed me to bhazard's review and told me to twist the cable first LOL! You're famous bhazard!
 
-Collin-

 

[SeeSax]

Anyone have any thoughts about using this cable with the QT5s?
 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BH6Z3NO/
 
I know they're a bit heavy, but I think they're perfectly suitable to be worn down rather than over hear. 
 
-Collin-

 

[bhazard]

Any Shure based MMCX will work.
 
If you're hearing the recessed V sound, it means it still isn't sounding as it should. The mids go from muffled/recessed to distinctly clear with no recession once that crossover/driver/mmcx connection finally kicks in. It can't be a loose connection either, otherwise I would have needed to keep fiddling every so often, and it was in both sides. Not once has the muffled sound returned after tons of cable swapping, and no rotations needed. It's puzzling.
 
Pop them back on and spin them like a top if you have to. Clockwise, counterclockwise, just keep trying until it doesn't seem like anything can be done. It's easier to get it working (hopefully) than a return process (which still isn't too bad).

 

[mikek200]

SeeSax,
 
I was just about to pull the trigger on these,and I saw your post-Thank You.
Have you contacted the seller??
Can you post some additional pics,of ..EVERYTHING,cable...etc??,ear tips
I've been reading this entire thread-seems many,many people are having issues with the eartips..
For a $300.00 IEM,this is ridiculous,and should be immediately addressed.
 
If you can,please post back,SeeSax,and,
Good Luck.,
Mike

 

[mikek200]

After reading the last few pages,I have decided NOT TO BUY,not until they fix these issues,immediately.
I'm not *issing away $300.00 but spend my days,twisting & turning a new pair of IEM's ,that do not fit properly
WHAT A JOKE??
 
Mike

 

[bhazard]

It hasn't happened to everyone, but to those that did like myself, that was the solution.
 
Got a reply from ZhiYin about the cabling as well, translated:
 
"Cable knitting is a very important technology,
Weave cable too tightly,
Will affect the electromagnetic and current conflict,
Will aggravate the sound to catch,
and lead to the loss of high frequency part,
This is like an electromagnetic oven, wire will have a certain degree of heat emission."
 
Design choice for better sound. I like the cable, but if someone doesn't maybe they will offer the option to ship without it.

 

[Lurk650]

So has anybody compared these to the TK13?

 

[SeeSax]

  Any Shure based MMCX will work.
 
If you're hearing the recessed V sound, it means it still isn't sounding as it should. The mids go from muffled/recessed to distinctly clear with no recession once that crossover/driver/mmcx connection finally kicks in. Burn in won't do it. It can't be a loose connection either, otherwise I would have needed to keep fiddling every so often, and it was in both sides. Not once has the muffled sound returned after tons of cable swapping, and no rotations needed. It's puzzling.
 
Pop them back on and spin them like a top if you have to. Clockwise, counterclockwise, just keep trying until it doesn't seem like anything can be done. It's easier to get it working (hopefully) than a return process (which still isn't too bad).

 
I will give it some more go. Bummer. Like I said, the burning in has improved the bass and treble, but it's still like someone threw a wet towel over the mids. Vocals sound like they're singing into a milk jug rather than a microphone. 
 

  SeeSax,
 
I was just about to pull the trigger on these,and I saw your post-Thank You.
Have you contacted the seller??
Can you post some additional pics,of ..EVERYTHING,cable...etc??,ear tips
I've been reading this entire thread-seems many,many people are having issues with the eartips..
For a $300.00 IEM,this is ridiculous,and should be immediately addressed.
 
If you can,please post back,SeeSax,and,
Good Luck.,
Mike

 
 

  After reading the last few pages,I have decided NOT TO BUY,not until they fix these issues,immediately.
I'm not *issing away $300.00 but spend my days,twisting & turning a new pair of IEM's ,that do not fit properly
WHAT A JOKE??
 
Mike

 
Hi Mike. This sort of makes me sad because I don't one incident like mine should deter you. So many are praising these to the moon and back, and those people are smarter and more knowledgeable than me. I was, perhaps, just the loudest dissenter! Don't write them off yet. 
 
Jim HCK asked me to try the "bhazard mod" (which I appropriately named myself) a few more times and if that doesn't work, he insisted he would take proper care of my situation. He's a good guy and you need not worry. Sure, shipping back and forth can be a pain, but it's a price to pay for a $300 IEM that has the potential to sound like a $1k IEM. 
 
I'll report back. Oh and since you asked for photos, here are the IEMs with the Spiral Dot tips and the Yamaha EPH-100 tips. Both are a chore to get on, but seem to fit/work well (better than the stock tips for me). 
 


 
-Collin-

 

[mikek200]

Don't feel sad,actually,I feel sad/angry for you.,,I know we are are not going to the QC,we get,here in the states.,so,
I will just stay glued to head-fi,for the next super sale, that  comes out,or,until they actually correct this issue.
 
Good luck to you,SeeSax,I hope everything gets corrected,
To be continued,
Mike

 

[Paulus XII]

   
Well since technology is failing me in general, my burn-in track crashed at two hours in last night. So I suppose I have somewhere around six hours of burn-in 

 
I'll see if I can let them burn-in for most of today. They are sounding better, not nearly as veiled in the mids as they were. Treble and bass sound good now, it's just the mids are super recessed. I didn't think these would have such a v-shape, but that's okay for now. I'm leaning toward them not being defective and perhaps just not what I was expecting. I didn't mean to crap all over the thread, but I can assure everyone my initial impressions were the honest truth!
 
I spoke to Jim HCK just to ask about the process if they were deemed to be defective. He pointed me to bhazard's review and told me to twist the cable first LOL! You're famous bhazard!
 
-Collin-

 
I would bet on on a defective midrange driver. One of them.

 

[harpo1]

  It hasn't happened to everyone, but to those that did like myself, that was the solution.
 
Got a reply from ZhiYin about the cabling as well, translated:
 
"Cable knitting is a very important technology,
Weave cable too tightly,
Will affect the electromagnetic and current conflict,
Will aggravate the sound to catch,
and lead to the loss of high frequency part,
This is like an electromagnetic oven, wire will have a certain degree of heat emission."
 
Design choice for better sound. I like the cable, but if someone doesn't maybe they will offer the option to ship without it.

I received the same reply about the cable.  Kinda of disappointing if you ask me.  I've purchased several hand woven cables that were made a hell of alot better than this one.  I agree they should make the cable an option and drop the price.

 

[stenog]

I received the QT5 a few days ago and I do NOT regret buying these, they are outstanding!! Atm I only have about 20-25 hours on the them. I don't use a burning station i just plug and play. But i think i have experienced what most have with them. Right out of the box, What!! these sounds like IE80 on a bad day .
 
Then twist cable, plug/unplug cable etc. several times and i think after about 10 hours i began to hear the difference. I have no idea what actually happened but i could literally hear a difference every time i put them in my ear. Now i only have crystal clear mids and a very tight bass. And no sibilance at all. But i still have a small problem with fit. I use the black stock tips, which are ok, but not perfect. Anyone knows if any foam tips can fit the nozzle?
 
The person who designed the nozzle on the QT5 should be punished like they did in the Ming dynasty. Send him north to the Great wall to fight against the barbarians...

 

[MuZo2]

   
I will give it some more go. Bummer. Like I said, the burning in has improved the bass and treble, but it's still like someone threw a wet towel over the mids. Vocals sound like they're singing into a milk jug rather than a microphone. 
 

 
How do the iems fit, do the go deeper? Try this
Put wide bore tips on, Maybe ie8 tips. Use one size bigger than what you normally use & dont push the iems too hard in, just insert slightly.

 

[SeeSax]

  I received the QT5 a few days ago and I do NOT regret buying these, they are outstanding!! Atm I only have about 20-25 hours on the them. I don't use a burning station i just plug and play. But i think i have experienced what most have with them. Right out of the box, What!! these sounds like IE80 on a bad day .
 
Then twist cable, plug/unplug cable etc. several times and i think after about 10 hours i began to hear the difference. I have no idea what actually happened but i could literally hear a difference every time i put them in my ear. Now i only have crystal clear mids and a very tight bass. And no sibilance at all. But i still have a small problem with fit. I use the black stock tips, which are ok, but not perfect. Anyone knows if any foam tips can fit the nozzle?
 
The person who designed the nozzle on the QT5 should be punished like they did in the Ming dynasty. Send him north to the Great wall to fight against the barbarians...

 
Haha, man, this made me laugh. I agree with everything you said 100%. 
 
-Collin-